Emperor Alexander sends Balashëv to Napoleon to deliver his letter and a personal message.
Summary:
General Balashëv sets off to deliver Alexander’s letter to the French Emperor. The Emperor also instructed him to verbally tell Napoleon that Alexander would not make peace so long as a single armed enemy remained on Russian soil. The Emperor hopes they can avoid war, though. Balashëv, as adjutant general to the Emperor Alexander, supposed he would very soon be promptly brought before Napoleon himself. But instead, Balashëv is repeatedly halted by lower level French military personnel before being permitted to continue on his way. By the end of this chapter, Balashëv has been stopped three times, but still has not reached Napoleon’s headquarters.
quote from the chapter:
The noncommissioned officer frowned and, muttering words of abuse, advanced his horse’s chest against Balashëv, put his hand to his saber, and shouted rudely at the Russian general, asking: was he deaf that he did not do as he was told? Balashëv mentioned who he was. The noncommissioned officer began talking with his comrades about regimental matters without looking at the Russian general. After living at the seat of the highest authority and power, after conversing with the Emperor less than three hours before, and in general being accustomed to the respect due to his rank in the service, Balashëv found it very strange here on Russian soil to encounter this hostile, and still more this disrespectful, application of brute force to himself.
Book 9, Chapter 4
Emperor Alexander sends Balashëv to Napoleon to deliver his letter and a personal message.
Summary:
General Balashëv sets off to deliver Alexander’s letter to the French Emperor. The Emperor also instructed him to verbally tell Napoleon that Alexander would not make peace so long as a single armed enemy remained on Russian soil. The Emperor hopes they can avoid war, though. Balashëv, as adjutant general to the Emperor Alexander, supposed he would very soon be promptly brought before Napoleon himself. But instead, Balashëv is repeatedly halted by lower level French military personnel before being permitted to continue on his way. By the end of this chapter, Balashëv has been stopped three times, but still has not reached Napoleon’s headquarters.
quote from the chapter:
The noncommissioned officer frowned and, muttering words of abuse, advanced his horse’s chest against Balashëv, put his hand to his saber, and shouted rudely at the Russian general, asking: was he deaf that he did not do as he was told? Balashëv mentioned who he was. The noncommissioned officer began talking with his comrades about regimental matters without looking at the Russian general. After living at the seat of the highest authority and power, after conversing with the Emperor less than three hours before, and in general being accustomed to the respect due to his rank in the service, Balashëv found it very strange here on Russian soil to encounter this hostile, and still more this disrespectful, application of brute force to himself.
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